Bushing insert for antifriction bearing assemblies

ABSTRACT

A flanged sleeve or bushing, fabricated of steel, adapted for insertion into a larger circular opening and a countersunk recess formed about and concentric with a somewhat smaller but deformed opening in the forward wall of an automotive transmission housing. Particularly adapted for use in the repair of transmission housings made of aluminum or cast iron. The bushing is fabricated of steel and designed for mounting therein the same antifriction bearing assembly that had been originally mounted in said smaller opening prior to its deformation.

United States Patent 1 1 3,637,272 Christiansen [4 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54]1,414,290 4/1922 Larsh ..30s/1s9 BUSHING INSERT FOR ANTIFRICTION BEARINGASSEMBLIES [72] Inventor: Michael G. Christiansen, 2524 Telegraph Road,St. Louis, Mo. 63125 [22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1970 [21 I Appl. No: 26,983

[52] [1.8. CI ..308/l89, 308/35, 308/207, 308/237. 16/2 [51] Int. Cl...Fl6c 33/08 [58] Field ofSearch .308/237,189,191,36.1,35, 308/207;16/2, DIG. 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,082,629 3/1963 Jones, Jr.et al. ..308/l89 Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron AssistantExaminer-Barry Grossman Attorney-George J. Mager 57] ABSTRACT A flangedsleeve or bushing, fabricated of steel, adapted for insertion into alarger circular opening and a countersunk recess formed about andconcentric with a somewhat smaller but deformed opening in the forwardwall of an automotive transmission housing. Particularly adapted for usein the repair of transmission housings made of aluminum or cast iron.The bushing is fabricated of steel and designed for mounting therein thesame antifriction bearing assembly that had been originally mounted insaid smaller opening prior to its deformation.

1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BUSHING INSERT FOR ANTIFRICTION BEARINGASSEMBLIES FIELD OF THE INVENTION Primarily though not exclusively, theinvention relates to automotive transmissions wherein the rear endportion of the input shaft is rotatably mounted in an antifrictionbearing assembly, and terminates in a main drive gear located within thetransmission housing.

In such transmissions, the aforesaid bearing assembly is initiallymounted in a circular opening provided therefor in the front wall of thehousing. Gradually, and particularly when the input shaft is caused torotate continuously at high speeds, (for example in automobile racing),the torque load on the bearing assembly tends to effect deformation ofthe said opening, until eventually, the said assembly increasinglywobbles, thus causing malfunctioning of the transmission mechanismdriven by the main drive gear.

Currently, when the bearing assembly supporting opening reaches thestage of deformation described, the entire transmission housing must bediscarded. In accordance with the concepts of the present invention,this would not be necessary, as will appear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The bushing insert of this invention isfabricated of steel to include integrally: a cylindrical hollow mainbody portion and a circular flange portion that extends radiallyoutwardly therefrom. The internal diameter of the main body portionwould correspond with the external diameter of the bearing assembly; theexternal diameter of the main body portion would correspond to theinternal diameter of the opening to be provided in the front wall of thehousing; and the peripheral edge of the flange portion would correspondwith the diameter of the annular countersunk recess to be formed in saidfront wall of the housing concentric with the opening aforesaid. Formost installations, the flange portion would have a circularly spacedseries of round holes formed therein, the spacing of said holescorresponding to that of the internally threaded sockets existent in thehousing front wall.

The invention is illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompaniesthis specification. Objects and advantages not specifically notedhereinbefore will be apparent or pointed out in the detailed descriptionthat will follow with reference to said drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa bushing insert embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the bushing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an exemplaryautomotive transmission housing with its forward wall conditioned inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view exemplarily illustratingthe invention in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The bushing insert of thepresent invention is generally indicated 8. It includes a hollowcylindrical main body portion 10, and an integral therewith flangeportion '12 that extends radially outwardly therefrom, and has acircular peripheral edge 13 concentric with said main body portion. Theannular internal surface 14 of the main body portion 12 would bediametered so as to snugly receive the outer periphery of the bearingassembly for which it is intended, and the annular outer surface 16would be so diametered as to snugly engage the circular opening thatwould be provided therefor, as will appear. Formed in the flange 12 is acircularly spaced series of LII round holes 18 each adapted for passagetherethro'ugh of the threaded shank portion of a headed bolt.

With attention now directed to FIGS. 5 and 6, the primary utilization ofthe invention is there illustrated. In these views, one end portion ofan exemplary aluminum automotive transmission casing or housing H isshown to include a front wall W. A circular opening 20 and a largerconcentric countersunk recess 21 having been formed in said wall inaccordance with the teachings of this invention, the bushing 8 is showninserted thereinto and secured in place by means of bolts 22. The shanksof these bolts extend through the existent openings formed in the flangeF of a conventional shaft-supporting cap member C, and the holes 18provided in the flange l2, thence into engagement with the existentinternally threaded sockets S in the wall W.

It will be observed that the thickness of the flange l2 and theperipheral edge 13 thereof are determined by the depth and diameter ofthe recess 21.

The exemplary antifriction bearing assembly B illustrated is of aconventional ball bearing type, and includes inner and outer racewayswith a series of circularly spaced spherical elements interposedtherebetween in usual fashion. It will be understood however, that theinvention is likewise applicable to antifriction assemblies of theroller bearing type.

The bearing assembly B disposed within the surrounding inner surface 14of the bushing 8, rotatably supports that portion of the power inputshaft P adjacently to the main drive gear G of the transmission inconventional fashion.

use

Although it is believed that the manner of utilizing the inventionshould be apparent, a brief further explanation will be given.

Thus, it will be understood that in its original status, the front wallW of the housing H will have been provided with a circular openingdiametered to snugly embrace the hearing assembly B. Each time that theinput shaft P rotates at high speed, the torque is so to speak loadedonto the bearing B. Consequently, the region of the front wall W aboutthe original circular opening becomes increasingly heated, particularlywhen the high-speed driving is maintained for a considerable length oftime. This will cause a slight softening of the material surrounding theaforesaid opening particularly when the transmission casing is made ofaluminum or cast iron as is understood. Consequently, the bearingassembly B will begin to wobble and thus distort the inner circularsurface of said opening. Eventually, as the bearing assembly continuesto wobble and increasingly deform the opening, the shaft P together withthe main drive gear G will wobble in unison therewith. The resultantmalfunctioning of the transmission mechanism is deemed to be obvious.

In order to remedy such situation, a circular opening 20, having adiameter corresponding to that of the annular outer surface 16 of thebushing 8 main body 10, and a concentric countersunk recess 21 having adiameter corresponding to that of the peripheral edge 13 of the flangeportion 12 and a depth corresponding to the axial thickness of saidflange, would be formed in the wall W by conventional line-boringoperations, whereby said opening 20 would be concentric with that in therear wall of the housing H through which the output shaft of thetransmission (not illustrated) extends. Thereupon the bushing 8 would beinserted and secured as illustrated and described, thus effectivelyconditioning the housing H and the therein transmission mechanism forfurther use.

The bushing insert may obviously be modified somewhat without departingfrom the principles of the invention. Wherefore the invention is not tobe limited to the precise structural details illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In combination:

An automotive transmission housing having a front wall with internallythreaded sockets,

an intake shaft extending from said housing,

an antifriction bearing assembly for rotatably supporting said shaft,

a shaft-supporting cap member, said cap member having a flange withholes therethrough, said holes mating with said sockets in said frontwall,

means wherewith to mount said antifriction bearing assembly in acircular opening in said front wall of said housing, said meanscomprising a bushing fabricated of steel and further including:

a hollow cylindrical main body portion having an internal diameter incorrespondence with the external diameter of said bearing assembly, andan external diameter in correspondence with the internal diameter ofsaid circular opening of said front wall,

a radially outwardly extending flange portion integral and concentricwith said main body portion, having a peripheral edge diameter incorrespondence with the diameter of a countersunk recess providedtherefore in said front wall, said recess being concentric with saidcircular opening in said front wall, the thickness of said flangeportion being in correspondence with the depth of said countersunkrecess,

a plurality of circularly spaced holes in said bushing flange, thespacing of said holes being in correspondence with the spacing of saidholes in said flange of said cap member,

whereby, said bushing and said cap member may be secured in place bybolt means extending through said holes in said bushing flange portion,said cap member flange portion, and said sockets in said front wall.

1. In combination: An automotive transmission housing having a frontwall with internally threaded sockets, an intake shaft extending fromsaid housing, an antifriction bearing assembly for rotatably supportingsaid shaft, a shaft-supporting cap member, said cap member having aflange with holes therethrough, said holes mating with said sockets insaid front wall, means wherewith to mount said antifriction bearingassembly in a circular opening in said front wall of said housing, saidmeans comprising a bushing fabricated of steel and further including: ahollow cylindrical main body portion having an internal diameter incorrespondence with the external diameter of said bearing assembly, andan external diameter in correspondence with the internal diameter ofsaid circular opening of said front wall, a radially outwardly extendingflange portion integral and concentric with said main body portion,having a peripheral edge diameter in correspondence with the diameter ofa countersunk recess provided therefore in said front wall, said recessbeing concentric with said circular opening in said front wall, thethickness of said flange portion being in correspondence with the depthof said countersunk recess, a plurality of circularly spaced holes insaid bushing flange, the spacing of said holes being in correspondencewith the spacing of said holes in said flange of said cap member,whereby, said bushing and said cap member may be secured in place bybolt means extending through said holes in said bushing flange portion,said cap member flange portion, and said sockets in said front wall.